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Thousands of Israelis protest government legal change plans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:55 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered Saturday for a demonstration against a contentious government plan to overhaul the judiciary, demanding the changes to be scrapped rather than delayed.The protests have been held on a weekly basis for most of the year and they continued despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing in March that he was postponing the proposals to reach a compromise agreement.Organizers of the protests, now in their 18th week, say they want to ramp up the pressure on Netanyahu’s government and lawmakers after the parliament resumed its work this week following a month-long recess.In Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial hub and epicenter of the protests, protestors held a large banner addressing Netanyahu that read, “You will never be a dictator!”The plan would give Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges, and his partners in Israel’s most hardline coalition in its history the final say in appointing judges. It would also gi...

Elevated cancer rates found near Kansas chemical spill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:55 GMT

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health officials have identified elevated levels of liver cancer among people living in several historically Black neighborhoods in Wichita where groundwater was polluted by a rail yard chemical spill.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment released a study Friday that found a liver and biliary tract cancer diagnosis rate of 15.7 per 100,000 people in the contamination zone, which was more than double the statewide rate of 6.4 per 100,000, The Wichita Eagle reports.Among non-Hispanic Black residents, the diagnosis rate was even higher, at 23.9 per 100,000. Experts believe that the spill of trichloroethene (TCE), a common solvent that is used to clean off paint and remove grease, could have happened as early as the 1970s, although it wasn’t identified until 1994. It created a plume of polluted groundwater that runs for 2.9 miles (4.67 kilometers) from the Union Pacific Railroad rail yard site.TCE can cause cancer in humans — “especially kidne...

Person struck and killed by driver in Skokie

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:55 GMT

SKOKIE, Ill. — A person was struck and killed by a driver late Friday night in Skokie, according to police.Skokie Police Department officers and emergency personnel were called to the crash around 11 p.m. near Gross Point Road and Lincoln Avenue. Off-duty police officer fatally shot in Avalon Park: police A preliminary investigation found the driver was driving north on Gross Point Road with a green signal and struck the person who was on the north side of the intersection, according to a news release from police.The driver who hit the person stayed on the scene, police said. The identities of those involved haven't been released.Members of the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force Major Crash Assist Team are assisting Skokie police with the investigation.Anyone with information is asked to call police at 847-982-5900.

Prom price index shows cost of celebration is getting relatively cheaper – even at a time of high inflation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:55 GMT

(The Conversation) - Going to the prom can be an expensive affair for cash-strapped teenagers. Past estimates and surveys put the average cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000 or more. Some teens reportedly spend upward of $2,000 on the traditional dancing ritual at the end of high school – and that’s not including an over-the-top after-prom party.But with inflation running at the fastest pace since the 1980s over the past year, has the price of prom jumped in cost too?As an economist, I became curious about the cost of proms back in 2014, when my daughter attended the dance. After tallying up how much this rite of passage was costing me, I started tracking the costs over time. What I found surprised me – and will likely delight any parent helping cover the cost of their teenager’s big day.A centuries-old traditionProms have been around since at least the end of the 1800s and are a signature high school experience.Proms have been featured in Broadway plays&...

Texas House committee recommends expelling Rep. Bryan Slaton

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:55 GMT

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — A House committee has recommended the expulsion of Republican state Rep. Bryan Slaton after finding that he engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a subordinate.In a speech from the floor, Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, chairman of the House General Investigating Committee, said Slaton's behavior was "induced by alcohol" that the representative provided the 19-year-old woman."Rep. Slaton then acted systematically to influence that subordinate and multiple witnesses to obstruct the investigation,” Murr said.Murr said expelling Slaton was necessary to protect the "dignity and integrity" of the Legislature.After Murr's speech, clerks distributed the House Committee on General Investigating report on Slaton. Members sat silently for about 10 minutes and read it. Slaton remained seated at his desk, occasionally peering at his phone. Speaker Dade Phelan then resumed normal legislative business.A Capitol employee filed a complaint with the ...

Photos: Who wore what to King Charles III’s coronation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:55 GMT

LONDON (AP) — What does one wear to a coronation?For senior royals like Queen Camilla and Kate, the Princess of Wales, the theme was pale, subdued dresses to let their regal robes and glittering jewelry do the talking.Camilla, who was crowned alongside King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, wore an embroidered silk gown in ivory, silver and gold tones with a short train by Bruce Oldfield — a British designer favored by the royal family — with matching shoes.Kate wore an ivory silk crepe dress by British fashion house Alexander McQueen under her cobalt blue and red Royal Victorian Order mantle, or robe. She didn’t wear a tiara, instead opting for a large silver and crystal headpiece designed by milliner Jess Collett in collaboration with McQueen.She also sported pearl and diamond earrings belonging to William’s late mother, Princess Diana.Her 8-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte, wore a similar headpiece and ivory McQueen dress with cape, embroidered with rose, thistle...

Five victims identified from deadly dust storm crashes in Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:55 GMT

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ill. - Illinois State Police identified five more victims from a series of deadly dust storm crashes on Interstate 55 last Monday. Seven drivers in the northbound lanes of Interstate 55, between mile markers 76 and 78, died from crashes in the deadly dust strom around mile marker. Illinois State Police say 37 people were hospitalized, and 72 vehicles were believed to be involved in the crash in some capacity. Top Story: St. Louis residents react to deadly downtown shootings The victims identified Saturday include...Joseph Bates, 73, of Crystal Lake, IllinoisDonna Bates, 71, of Crystal Lake, IllinoisEarl LeGrand, 64, of Florissant, MissouriMichael Zinchuk, 55, of Champaign, IllinoisAmy Zinchuk, 54, of Champaign, IllinoisInvestigators previously identified Shirley Harper, 88, of Franklin, Wisconsin, as one of the victims. Police have not yet disclosed the identity of one other victim. ISP spokesperson Brendan Kelly says they can’t jump to conclusions on what exact...

Two pedestrians struck, killed by pickup truck on I-170 in St. Louis County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:55 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Just after midnight Saturday, a man and a woman were walking on I-170 northbound when a pickup truck hit both pedestrians. MSHP has identified Harvey McGee, 29, and Crystal Bounds, 39, as the victim. Next of kin has been notified. Investigators say the pickup truck driver was heading northbound on Interstate 170 near the Interstate 70 interchange when McGee and Bounds were on the roadway and fatally struck. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. We are working to learn more about this accident and will update as new information becomes available.

Warrenton man missing since Wednesday, endangered advisory issued

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:55 GMT

WARRENTON, Mo. - Police have issued an "endangered person advisory" for a Warrenton man missing since Wednesday. Authorities are searching for a 60-year-old man, Harold Eugene Murray III. He was last seen Wednesday afternoon near a home in the 1100 block of Juniper Drive. According to the Warrenton Police Department, Murray was last seen walking away from his home and informed his wife he would be gone for two weeks. It's unclear where he went, and he left behind his wallet, phone and medications. Trending: King Charles III coronation in London: Watch live Warrenton police say in the advisory that Murray suffers from diabetes, COPD, and bipolar disorder. Murray is described as 5 feet, 9 inches tall and 265 pounds with gray and blonde hair, a long beard, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He has tattoos that cover both arms. He was also last seen wearing a white t-shirt, Red Sox jacket, blue jeans, and gray and blue tennis shoes.If you have any information on his whereabouts, contac...

Kentucky Derby races on amid 6th death, scratched favorite

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:55 GMT

By BETH HARRIS (AP Racing Writer)LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A star-crossed Kentucky Derby lost its early favorite when Forte was scratched and a sixth horse died at Churchill Downs earlier Saturday, further blows to a sport already reeling from a series of doping suspensions and breakdowns.“This is part of racing and it’s the cruel part,” Mike Repole, co-owner of Forte, said in an interview with FanDuel TV.Forte was the fifth scratch from the Derby in the days leading up to the $3 million race for 3-year-olds. Chloe’s Dream, a 3-year-old gelding that ran on the Derby undercard, is the sixth horse to have died at Churchill Downs in recent days.The string of horse deaths cast a pall for some Derby-goers on a mostly cloudy and warm day.“It’s concerning, and I hope they’re quickly trying the best they can to correct whatever’s going on,” said Michael Freeze, who along with his friend dressed up as jockeys. “They need to do wh...